Covid-19 Briefing for Pupils, Parents and Carers
01 February 2021 at 16:54:02
Information correct at date of publication: Last published on Friday, 29 January, 2021 06:40 PM
Remember FACTS & Stay Home - Stay Safe
Following confirmation of the whole Western Isles area being placed in Tier Four and we remain under a period of restricted school closures, it is important that we all, as a community, do everything that we can to reduce the risk of virus transmission. The most effective ways for us to do this is to remember FACTS, stay at home wherever possible and to not undertake any non- essential travel.
School Restrictions
During this period of restricted school closures, all previous Covid-19 security and hygiene measures remain in place for the pupils permitted to attend as the children of key workers or vulnerable pupils. This includes strict hand hygiene, consistent pupil bubbles, physical distancing where required and frequent cleaning routines.
We must also remind parents that they are not permitted to enter school buildings and must wear a face covering whenever on any part of school grounds. Please also ensure that you maintain a minimum 2m physical distance from any other parents or families at all times.
Key Worker Provision - Tier 4 Critical Use Only
Whilst the islands were in Tier Three, a significant number of key workers had to continue to attend at work and, as a result we have seen a higher rate of attendance at school, but today's confirmation of Tier Four status means that we must take further steps to reduce overall attendance at school.
Even when registration is approved, parents must only use the provision in the following circumstances:
- when there is absolutely no other childcare options available to you and it is critical that the child attend at school;
- strictly only when physical attendance at work is required.
Where both parents are involved in the care of a child, both must be classified as key workers and both must be required to physically attend at work at the same time to be able to send children in to school.
If your child's school or the Comhairle become aware that key worker provision is being used in any circumstances other than those described above, the approval to access key worker provision will be removed with immediate effect.
Parents must be prepared that schools may challenge attendance of key worker children to ensure continuing eligibility.
We must compel key worker parents to only use the provision when it is absolutely essential and call upon employers to provide flexibility for staff to work from home wherever possible.
Key Worker Registration Closed
Key Worker Registration is fully closed to new registrations and schools have been provided with registers of all children approved to attend.
ELC and P1 Enrolment
Covid-19 restrictions in place at the moment will also affect nursery and P1 enrolment for 2021 as parents are not permitted to enter nursery or school buildings. The following arrangements are in place for this year's enrolment.
ELC/Nursery Enrolment
For children eligible to enrol in nursery from August 2021, enrolment opened on 25th January. Parents should contact their intended nursery provision and they will provide details about how to complete enrolment for that setting. More information about eligibility and enrolment procedures can be found on the Early Learning and Childcare Enrolment webpage.
P1 Enrolment
Enrolment for P1 for August 2021 will take place online this year and will open for applications on Monday 1st February for children who will be four years of age by 28th February. Information about P1 enrolment and the online form can be accessed on our website.
February Weekend School Holiday
All Comhairle schools and term-time nurseries will be fully closed to pupils on the following dates for the mid-term break and staff in-service day.
- Wednesday 10th February
- Thursday 11th February
- Friday 12th February
- Monday 15th February
Please note that there will be no key worker or vulnerable pupil provision and no remote learning provided during the holiday.
Full-year nurseries will be open as usual on the above dates.
Support for Remote Learning
Our pupils, parents and schools have been working very hard since the start of term to support remote learning for pupils at home and are using a wide range of resources and approaches to help children and families to engage with learning.
There are two important elements of the national e-Learning offer that we would like to draw parents' attention to that are universally available and can be used to support and complement learning being provided by your school.
e-Sgoil Lockdown Live
The e-Sgoil Lockdown Live programme is available directly on the e-Sgoil website and doesn't require a log -in to Glow.
The programme offers live and interactive daily content, study support and live video content with sessions for N-P1, P2-7, S1-3 and S4-6 and it is proving very popular with learners, with Lockdown Live videos receiving over 100,000 views to-date.
WestOS
For pupils in S4-6 undertaking national qualifications, the WestOS online school is providing a wide range of pre-recorded lesson videos and tutorials for many National 5 and Higher courses.
The WestOS content is able to be accessed via a tile on pupils' Glow Launchpad when they log-in and pupils can then access all the pre-recorded video content.
Dèanamaid Dihaoine
Comhairle schools will again be offering a special Friday programme of interesting and engaging activities for learners across the authority at Early, First and Second levels. Please look out for Dèanamaid Dihaoine information coming out from your school each week.
GME Support for Parents
CnES and e-Sgoil provides online tutor support for GME Parents and Carers via the Learning Shop.
Weekly workshops for this term include 'Gaelic for Beginners', 'Numeracy skills' and 'Reading Aloud Together' for learners and fluent speakers alike. Literacy and homework support skills are embedded.
We offer individual GME parental support sessions, available via zoom and phone throughout the week, whatever your needs and at times that suit. We offer additional help for those with ASN support needs.
If parents only need help once in a while, we offer Zoom drop-in sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm.
For the duration of the period of school closures we are extending our Zoom drop-in sessions to every weekday morning between 10am and Midday, to help with organising learners for that day's schoolwork. Parents can also phone to access this support on 01851 822718 or email janemacleod@cne-siar.gov.uk .
School Closure Review
The Scottish Government is expected to announce the outcome of its next review of Covid-19 protection measures, including education provision, on Tuesday 2nd February 2021. Following this announcement, we will know more about any further extension of school closures or plans for the return of pupils when it is deemed safe to do so.
We will provide further information to pupils, parents and carers following the announcement on 2nd February 2021.
SQA Update
We appreciate that many pupils and parents in the Senior Phase expecting to be presented for national qualifications this year will be concerned about the impact of the continued period of school closures and remote learning.
Schools are working hard to manage the process of evidence gathering, moderation and evaluation of progress to assist in reaching decisions about provisional awards whilst the vast majority of pupils continue to learn from home. Your child's own school will be providing information directly to you about arrangements for their pupils in the weeks and months ahead.
The SQA has confirmed to-date that the deadline for submission of provisional awards by schools has been moved from 28th May to 18th June.
SQA issued updates for pupils and parents via their website earlier this week.
Covid-19 Symptoms
- a high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (37.8˚c or higher)
- a new, continuous cough- this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
If you believe that any member of your household is displaying any of the symptoms of Covid-19 described above, you must act promptly.
- Self-Isolate: All members of the household must immediately self-isolate. Children in the household must not be sent to school or nursery.
- Ask for a Test: All members of the household with symptoms should be referred for a Covid-19 test . or telephone 01851 601151.
- Inform: Ensure that you promptly notify employers and any schools or nurseries that your household is self-isolating and awaiting testing.
